By Abbas Nazil
Morocco’s ambitious ‘water highway’ project has helped prevent a major water crisis in the country’s most populous cities, but experts are questioning its long-term sustainability amid ongoing climate change and persistent drought.
The North African country has spent $728 million on a large-scale water transfer system that redirects excess water from the Sebou River in the north to supply Rabat and Casablanca.
Official figures indicate that the project has already delivered more than 700 million cubic meters of drinking water to these urban centers since its inauguration in August 2024.
This effort became critical when Rabat and its surrounding region faced an acute water shortage in late 2023, with its main reservoir running dry.
By tapping surplus water from northern rivers, officials say the initiative successfully prevented nearly 12 million people from running out of water.
However, experts warn that the long-term viability of the project is uncertain.
Morocco has been experiencing its longest and most severe drought in history, with annual water supply dropping from 18 billion cubic meters in the 1980s to just five billion today.
Rainfall levels are now 75 percent below historical averages, and temperatures continue to rise, accelerating evaporation.
The country’s water distribution remains highly uneven, with more than half of its rainfall occurring in just seven percent of its land area.
The project leverages surplus water in the north, where rainfall is relatively higher, to compensate for shortages in drier southern regions.
However, studies indicate that climate change is expected to significantly impact northern water basins over the next six decades, potentially eliminating the very surpluses the project depends on.
Water and climate researcher Nabil El Mocayd cautioned that what is currently considered surplus water may cease to exist in the future due to increasing deficits.
A 2020 study he co-authored recommended scaling back the project to avoid over-reliance on an uncertain water supply.
Beyond climate challenges, Morocco’s agricultural sector, which employs nearly a third of the workforce, continues to place high demands on water resources.
Researcher Abderrahim Handouf emphasized the need for more widespread adoption of water-efficient irrigation techniques among farmers to ease the overall water burden.
While the water transfer project has proven effective in the short term, experts urge the government to consider alternative solutions such as desalination to secure drinking water for the country’s urban centers.
As Morocco grapples with climate uncertainty, caution and diversification in water management strategies will be key to ensuring long-term sustainability.